is this a yellowjacket?
November 13, 2009
this fellow chomping on some tasty pears i thought was a really nice looking creature, i’m still not sure what he is, a wasp, yellow jacket, got me.
Danny Tincher
london, ky
European Hornet
Hi DAnny,
This behemoth is a European Hornet or Giant Hornet, Vespa crabro, an introduced species that potentially is cause for concern as an invasive species.
would like to learn more
November 13, 2009
We have found these things while camping in the rocky mountains (Wyoming) quite often. Some of them are almost three inches long with antenae. They can “sorta” fly but its pretty slow and clumsy. The white mottling seems a little bit unique to each individual.
They are nonviolent, but I cought one in my hand one time and it poked a hole in my hand, or bit me real deep (not poisonous but right into a palm tendon). It hurt for a good week. Is this a pine borer? They are neat.
Interested Campers
Snowy Range and Big Horn Mountains, WY
White Spotted Sawyer
Dear Interested Campers,
This is a Long Horned Borer Beetle in the genus Monochamus, most like Monochamus scutellatus, the White Spotted Sawyer. They range over much of North America. According to BugGuide, common hosts are Balsam fir, spruces and white pine.
Assassin bug
November 13, 2009
I was going to send you a burying beetle, but then this one popped up unexpectedly so here he is. I’ll save the burying beetle for another night.
The cat loves/hates them. Loves to stalk, hates being spit on.
Oroboros
Denver, CO
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Dear Oroboros, you snake,
This is not an Assassin Bug. It is a Western Conifer Seed Bug, one of the Leaf Footed Bugs in the family Coreidae. Just this morning we wrote about the Western Conifer Seed Bug for the Household Intruders chapter of our book, so we are just going to post that section as part of your reply. We hope our readership enjoys this short preview.
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Had it remained confined to its native Pacific Northwest range, the Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, would never have made our Rogue’s List of household intruders, but during the 1970s, individuals were noticed in the eastern portions of North America, thousands of miles from their home territory. These introductions were probably due to human assistance, though the exact source of the accidental establishment cannot be ascertained. The Western Conifer Seed Bug found the climate in the eastern part of the continent to its liking, and there was a readily available food source, and the species multiplied. Both adult and immature Western Conifer Seed Bugs feed on the sap of the resin rich green pine cones, and occasionally the twigs and needles of many species of conifers, so they do little damage to the trees themselves, though they do have a negative effect on the developing cones which wither and fall off the tree. The Western Conifer Seed Bug is now very well established across North America, everywhere but the southern and gulf states. In the very late twentieth century and into the early twenty first century, reports of sightings in many European countries were confirmed, doubtless due to the importation of stacks of lumber that may have contained hibernating adults.
The Western Conifer Seed Bug can be recognized both by its dull orange and brown coloration and its long antennae. Its most distinguishing feature though is the widening on the hind leg that gives the family members a shared common name of Leaf Footed Bug or Big Legged Bug. Since homemakers are often prone to swatting this relatively large intruder should it be encountered inside, this action releases what some to find to be an offensive odor, and what others have described as the scent of apples, the smell of grass, or the odor of pine. Because of the scent, the Western Conifer Seed Bug is sometimes mistaken for a Stink Bug, though the odor released by a Stink Bug is rarely described as pleasant.
Because of their habit of entering homes to seek shelter from the winter cold, Western Conifer Seed Bugs gain attention in the autumn along with some true Stink Bugs like the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. None of these species pose any threat to humans, pets or to the home. They will not breed indoors and they will not bite. Since they are just seeking shelter from the elements, if they escape notice upon entering, they will find a secluded place and rest until the warm sunny days of spring arrive. At that time, they again attract attention as they seek egress at the bright windows.
Update with new photo
How fascinating! I was quite sure of the general identity before I sent that, so I am really glad now for the serendipity that caused me to choose it and learn something new.
I do tend to find them closest to the window that is right next to a pine tree which now makes a lot of sense.
So here’s a followup then. I found this guy in my bathtub, and suspect that they are the same species but perhaps this is a juvenile?
I named the photo replicator because something about it reminded me of the replicators from the Stargate series.
Masked Hunter
Your replicator is an Assassin Bug, an immature Masked Hunter. It may bite, but does not spread Chagas. Thanks to clickbeetle for pointing out there was a link with a new image.
Looks and acts like a “Junebug”, but comes in the Fall around here
November 12, 2009
Two people have told me these bugs, which are large, clumsy and hit the window at night, are “pine beetles” or “pine borers”, which I have a hard time believing. We do live amongst a lot of oaks, cedars, yews, spruce, etc., but these guys act and look like June bugs and will not be around long.
Rhoni Lawrence
Sierra Nevada foothills, N. California, 2400 ft.
Rain Beetle
Hi Rhoni,
These are most definitely Rain Beetles in the family Pleocomidae, an unusual group of beetles with fascinating life histories. Only the males are able to fly, and female Rain Beetles live many feet underground. Males emerge from the ground after a rain and fly off in search of a mate. There are many species of Rain Beetles, but their individual ranges are quite limited, and an expert is required to distinguish one species from another. There are some nice images on BugGuide. We read an awesome article about Rain Beetles in the LA Times this spring, but alas, the link online indicates that there is scheduled maintenance on the site and we are uncertain when it will be available. In lieu of not being able to link to the LA Times article, we are linking to a Bay Nature website with some information.
Rain Beetles
Bug covered in pollen
November 12, 2009
I photographed this bug near the San Pedro River 5 miles east of Sierra Vista, AZ August, 26, 2008. It caught my eye because it was covered in pollen. I am interested in knowing what it is called.
Juanita
South East Arizona near San Pedro River
Scoliid Wasp
Hi Juanita,
We are requesting assistance from Eric Eaton with your identification. We believe this is a Scoliid Wasp or Flower Wasp, a family that takes nectar and pollen as an adult, and feeds upon Scarab beetle grubs as a larva. The Scoliid Wasps are robust wasps with hairy bodies that will attract pollen. Your photo doesn’t show any markings on the abdomen, but we believe your specimen may be Scolia nobilitata, as pictured on BugGuide.
Eric Eaton Concurs
You are correct. So much pollen that I can’t make out which genus, let alone species:-)
Eric
Thank you for your information. I too have been searching other web-sites and have seen a similar picture at the following site:
http://www.flickr.com/search/groups/?q=Wasp&w=1115180%40N22&m=pool
The third photo does show a Scolid Wasp that looks very much like the insect I photographed. The individual who took the picture did so in South East Arizona about 70 miles from the place where I took the photo.
Juanita
jumping sand bug
November 12, 2009
I found this bug while walking on the beach in galveston, texas. They were jumping everywhere like fleas! They are over a centimeter long. Their undersides are metallic green, from the top they are brown with a whitish pattern
Michelle D.
Gelveston, TX, USA
Schaupp's Tiger Beetle
Hi Michelle,
This is a beneficial predatory Tiger Beetle. We believe, based on images and information posted to BugGuide, that this is Schaupp’s Tiger Beetle, Cicindela schauppii. It is found in Texas and Oklahoma in sandy and gravelly areas with limestone outcrops. Sightings are primarily in the autumn. We hope the individual in your photo died of natural causes.
Whats this strange bug
November 12, 2009
its chilly right now in IL and 3 others near me have found these bugs so i am curious what they are
doesnt matter
Central Illinois US
Wheel Bug
Dear doesnt matter,
This beauty is North America’s largest predatory Assassin Bug, the Wheel Bug.
Bee, 1 inch long, loner, colored like a honey bee but not so fuzzy, antennas flare out and are long – see photos attached
November 9, 2009
Excellent site! Do you know what kind of bee this is?
Thanks
T. Keefe
Houston TX
Mining Bee
Dear T.,
We are relatively certain that this is a Mining Bee in the genus Andrena. According to BugGuide: “Considering the large number of similar-looking species, identification to species level usually requires an expert. Andrena are more active than Apis at lower temperatures. For this and other reasons Andrena (and Osmia…) can be, on a per bee basis, superior pollinators in cold weather. Some species such as Andrena clarkella are exceptionally cold tolerant.“ We will check with Eric Eaton to see if he agrees with our assessment.
Sweat Bee
Correction courtesy of Eric Eaton
LOL! You’re not “far off” at all, Daniel. The Texas bee is a male halictid bee in the genus Nomia. I recognize it by the beefy hind legs of the male bees in that genus. There are many species so I’m not sure which one this is. John Ascher at the American Museum of Natural History might be able to be more specific.
Eric
Thank you so much. The plant, a Shepherd’s Needle, attracts several kinds of bee, wasp, flies, butterflies. I have been using your site to identify them. It has been very helpful.
Take care,
T
black beetle-like insect with very large abdomen
November 10, 2009
We found 5 of these insects on the under side of our recycling bin. The largest was 3 inches long. We live in Portland Oregon, and it is November. The insects were sluggish, and appeared semi dormant. I wondered if they were a larval stage of another insect.
Heather in Portland
Portland, OR
Oil Beetle
Hi Heather,
Though it looks rather like a larva, this is an adult Oil Beetle in the genus Meloe, one of the Blister Beetles.
San Pedro River AZ redhead
November 11, 2009
A friend in AZ recently took this picture of this very handsome insect. It was on a rabbit bush in the San Pedro River Raparian area in SE Arizona. She said she saw a couple of them on the bush. It’s probably fairly common, but I lived there for eight years and don’t recall ever seeing one of these before. It’s gorgeous, and I’d really like to know what it is.
I HOPE the picture attached correctly!
Elaine
San Pedro River near Sierra Vista, AZ
Veined Ctenucha
Hi Elaine,
Your moth is known as the Veined Ctenucha, Ctenucha venosa. It is found in Arizona and New Mexico. The caterpillars feed on grasses.
Chinese beetle
November 10, 2009
Hello,
I saw these on a (low) hill path in Zhongshan in China yesterday and wondered what they are? Is it mother and child or a male/female couple? Thanks
Neil
Zhongshan city, GuangDong, CHina
Chinese Longhorn Beetles
Hi Neil,
The markings on your beetles are different than those on examples of Mango Stem Borers, Batocera rufomaculata, that we have posted previously, but there are enough similarities for us to question if this is perhaps a regional variation. Your beetles might be a closely related species in the genus Batocera, like perhaps Batocera davidis, or perhaps a member of another genus in the Long Horned Borer family Cerambycidae. In our opinion, this is a couple. Perhaps one of our readers can assist in this identification.
Update from Karl
Hi Daniel:
They are definitely a Batocera species (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Batocerini) but not B. rufomaculata. There are several similar looking species in Asia, but as far as I can tell only B. davidis and B. rubus occur in China. The B. davidis photo that you linked to does look very much like the ones in Neil’s photo, but most images of B. davidis do not show the prominent white spots on the elytra. This could be an example of regional variation, or it could be another case of misidentified photos on the web. On the other hand, there are numerous postings of B. rubus and they all appear very similar. For comparison, the ‘Siam Insect-Zoo & Museum’ site has excellent photos and descriptions of all the species mentioned here. I think I have to go with B. rubus. Coincidentally, I also came across a photo of mating B. rubus (subspecies mniszechi) from the Philippines that is remarkably similar to the one posted by Neil. Regards.
Karl
bright green spider
November 9, 2009
I found this spider hanging out on my front door when my sister came to visit today. I grabbed my camera so I could try to identify it.
Marie
Indiana
Orchard Orbweaver
Hi Marie,
Your beautiful spider is an Orchard Orbweaver, Leucauge venusta. You can find more information on BugGuide.
